Press Release
-
JOINT STATEMENT AT USCIRF HEARING
Read by Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights (832 words / 4:35 min) Dear USCIRF Chair Cooper and Vice Chair Davie, Thank you for inviting me to testify. I speak on behalf of Dalit Solidarity Forum, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, Hindus
-
statement
Federation of Indian American Christian organizations (FIACONA), in a meeting of pastors and community leaders in Chicago area today, thanked the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), for its call to all its churches and all
-
Statement
May 16, 2023, Washington DC. The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations is greatly troubled by the large-scale assault on the Christian churches and homes in the Northeastern Indian State of Manipur during the first week of May by the Hindu
PRESS RELEASE
July 13, 2023
FIACONA APPLAUDS EU PARLIAMENT ON ADOPTING A RESOLUTION CONDEMNING THE ATTACKS ON CHURCHES IN INDIA:
- The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) welcomes the strong response from the European Union Parliament (EUP) on the tragic crises in Manipur, India.
- FIACONA calls the violence in Manipur against Christians as ‘state-sponsored’.
- The Hindu nationalist BJP government armed and aided the militia loyal to them to attack the Churches.
July 13, 2023, Washington DC. In speech after speech, Members of the EUP challenged the Indian government’s disregard for human rights in Northeast India and questioned the policies of Indian Prime Minister Modi when it comes to human rights within India. The Indian Prime Minister has remained silent on the rapidly deteriorating situation in Manipur, where mainly Christians have been killed and churches destroyed.
“The situation in the state of Manipur in the North East of India is serious…violence is ongoing without the perpetrators being prevented. We call on the Indian government to do everything to restore order, bring the perpetrators to justice, and stop the excessive violence. With this resolution of the European Parliament, we call on the most populous democracy in the world to do what it is duty-bound to do as per its Constitution — to maintain religious freedom for the Christians in Manipur,” said parliament speaker Sven Simon, representing the EPP.
“In Manipur, over 120 people killed…not just one or two but 250 churches have been burnt. This is a dramatic situation and we have to do everything in our power to bring an end to this. Without ironclad guarantees in this area, we cannot talk about a new trade agreement with India,” said parliament speaker Bert-Jan Ruissen, representing the ECR.
FIACONA President Mr. Koshy George said, “This is a very timely and appropriate public response from the EUP. The speeches by the EU Parliamentarians reveal to the world the true situation on the ground in India. The Manipur crises can no longer be swept under the rug as being an “internal matter” as claimed by the Modi Government and must be brought to the attention of the international community.”
In a supporting statement, FIACONA Chairman, Mr. John Prabudoss, declared, “The decision of the EUP to bring a resolution to the floor for discussion shows that the world community will not remain silent when the world’s largest democracy perpetuates human rights violations while seeking to be perceived as a major player on the world stage. FIACONA supports and thanks the European Parliament for taking this timely step to put the Indian government on notice that human rights violations anywhere in the world will not be ignored and will have an impact on trade relations.”
The Indian Christian community in the United States is extremely concerned that cases of persecution of Christians in India continue to rise. Efforts are underway to increase the awareness of mainline Christian denominations in the US about the situation in India. Over 50,000 people have been displaced in Manipur alone since early May. People are living in fear.
**
On January 30, 2023, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations launched its ‘Annual Report 2023’ on India for 2022 at an event held at Washington Hilton, ahead of the IRF Summit.
The 2023 Report is unique in several aspects. For the first time, the Report calls for accountability from the government of India for its institutional failures to safeguard the lives and properties of Christians. The Report has recorded 1198 confirmed and verified incidents of violence against the Christian community across India. All these attacks were carried out by groups affiliated with or controlled by the Hindu nationalist party, the BJP, and its parent organization, the RSS.
Most of these attacks took place in states with some Anti-Conversion Laws. The attackers used perceived conversion, restricted by those laws, as a cover to attack the prayer meetings and churches. The police had joined the attackers in many instances.
A copy of the Report can be downloaded from FIACONA.org.
FIACONA is a Washington DC based voluntary, charitable organization advocating on behalf of 1 million strong Indian American Christians from all 50 states and Canada, It is a coalition of Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Pentecostal and independent church and civic organizations primarily of Indian Americans. FIACONA is a bridge builder for ecumenical advocacy focused on finding ways to reduce violence against Christians in India. Our focus is to preserve the socio-political space of the Christian church from encroachment by nationalist radical groups in the name of Hinduism or their representatives in the Indian government.
PS: If you wish to help rebuild churches in Manipur India, please visit www.fiacona.org/donate
- List Churches Destroyed/Burnt Click to View Document
- List of Villages/towns attacked Click to View Document
- Summary of Churches Attacked Click to View Document
For further inquiries, please contact info@fiacona.org
FIACONA Twitter Feeds
News Updates
-
Uttar Pradesh: Now Christians feel the heat
Four Christian-run institutions in the Uttar Pradesh town of Fatehpur face criminal cases for alleged forcible conversion of Hindus, with over 200 accused, many arrested and imprisoned, under UP’s three- year-old anti-conversion law. An investigation by Article 14 reveals similar statements in
-
Indian Christian couple jailed for trying to convert kin
A trial court in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district on March 11 sentenced Ramesh Babulal Masih and his wife, Sakhi Ramesh Masih, to two years in jail and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000 (US$603) under the state's Freedom of Religion
-
Christians in shock after 200-strong mob attacks church in Telangana State, India
A mob of 200 people attacked a church and injured 20+ Christians over a road dispute in Telangana, India.At least 22 Christians in India injured after a 200-strong mob attacked a church are still in shock after their ordeal. Two
-
Catholic priest granted bail after arrest under anti-conversion law in India
In the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, Father Dominic Pinto of the Lucknow diocese was arrested Feb. 5 along with six Protestants on charges of trying to convert poor Dalits, or “untouchables,” from Hinduism to Christianity “Finally, I am able to
-
Indian State Moves to Criminalize Praying for the Sick
State lawmakers in India are seeking to curtail evangelism with a ban on “magical healing” that could penalize Christians who offer prayer or any “non-scientific” practices to comfort people who are sick. Last month, the northeastern state of Assam introduced the
-
Christian Community in Assam Appeals for Government Action Amid Rising Attacks
ASSAM: United Christian Forum Golaghat has submitted a memorandum to Hon’ble Governor of Assam, Gulab Chand Kataria, demanding an alarming increase in targeted attacks against the Christians and their organizations in Assam. UCF Golaghat which is led by President Jidan Aind and Secretary Leander
-
Karnataka: Christian prayed hall vandalised The Grace Community prayer hall was attacked and vandalised in Ramanagara
The local Christian community, who is trying to grapple with the violent incident, has taken to the public forum X to fervently appeal to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister for swift and resolute action against the perpetrators. The
-
Indian Church schools face fresh threat over Christian symbols
The leader of a Hindu group in northeastern Assam state plans legal action against Church-run schools in the state after they ignored a deadline to remove Christian symbols from school premises.Satya Ranjan Borah, who heads the Kutumba Surakshya Parishad (family safety council),
-
Lay group seeks protection from Hindu groups in Indian state
A forum of lay Catholics has urged the head of a state government in northeast India to protect minority Christians and tribal people who are being threatened and harassed by hardline Hindu groups. “We cannot keep silent and remain mute spectators when our
-
Assam Hindutva leader Satya Ranjan Borah warns to hit street over Christian missionary institutions
It appears Satya Ranjan Borah does not want to miss checking any boxes in his checklist of hardline Hindutva objectives. Hindutva leader from Assam, Satya Ranjan Borah, has issued a warning about taking to the streets in protest against Christian missionary
-
Hindu groups to move Gauhati High Court against Christian missionaries for inclusive religious practices in schools
After passing of 15-day deadline given to Christian missionary schools for the removal of idols of Jesus Christ, Mother Mary and the Cross, several Hindu groups led by Kutumba Surakshy Parishad have decided to move the Gauhati High Court against
-
Govt admits 219 deaths in sectarian strife in India’s Manipur
The government in India’s strife-torn Manipur has admitted for the first time that 219 persons have been killed in the ethnic violence that broke out nearly 10 months ago in the northeastern state.Governor Anusuiya Uikey disclosed the figures during her address to the
MISSION
Protecting
lives and properties
The threat to lives and properties of Christian communities in India from political movements, despite having all imaginable protections enshrined in the Constitution of India, remains a serious concern for the Federation.